FMCSA Moves to End Self-Certification in Trucking

Amy Chavez

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December 18, 2025

FMCSA, Diesel, and Freight: What Small Carriers Need to Know Right Now

There are some big regulatory shifts and market conditions owner-operators and small carriers need to hear about this week — from a push to tighten oversight of driver training, ELDs, and medical examiners, to diesel prices falling again, and freight activity shifting late in the season.

These changes may not feel immediate day-to-day, but together they shape how easy — or difficult — it will be to stay profitable heading into the new year.

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Episode Highlights

FMCSA Wants to End Self-Certification for Trainers, ELDs, and Medical Examiners

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs has made it clear the agency wants to end self-certification for several key players in the trucking ecosystem, including:

CDL training providers
ELD vendors
Certified medical examiners

Right now, many of these providers are allowed to self-attest that they meet federal requirements. According to the FMCSA, that system has made it too easy for unqualified or non-compliant providers to operate.

Barrs has said the agency wants a stronger vetting and oversight process — similar to what has already begun with CDL training providers — to ensure that the people and technology carriers rely on are actually meeting federal safety standards.

Why this matters to owner-operators and small fleets

For small carriers, this isn’t just a regulatory headline. It affects:

Who you can safely hire
Which ELD providers you trust
Whether a driver’s medical certification will hold up in an audit

As oversight increases, carriers working with questionable providers could face compliance problems they didn’t create — but still have to deal with.

Practical takeaway:
Double-check CDL training history when hiring, confirm your ELD provider remains FMCSA-approved, and work with certified medical examiners who have a solid track record.

Diesel Prices Are Falling — But Volatility Remains

There is some short-term relief at the pump.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the national average on-highway diesel price has dropped to around $3.60 per gallon this week, continuing a gradual decline through mid-December.

While that’s welcome news for carriers, diesel remains one of the most unpredictable line items in a trucking budget. Prices can still swing quickly due to weather, refinery issues, or global supply disruptions.

What this means for your cost per mile

Lower diesel prices can improve margins — but only if carriers avoid overreacting.

Smart operators are:

Keeping fuel buffers in their rate calculations
Avoiding long deadhead miles just to chase volume
Tracking cost per mile weekly, not monthly

Fuel relief helps, but it doesn’t fix a weak rate or a bad lane.

DAT Trendlines: Spot Market Activity Shifts in Mid-December

Freight activity is also showing signs of seasonal slowdown.

According to DAT Trendlines data comparing Dec 8–14 vs Dec 1–7:

Spot load posts fell 10.4%
Spot truck posts increased 2.8%

That combination means fewer loads and slightly more trucks competing for them — a typical pattern heading into late December.

What this means for small carriers

When capacity increases and load posts drop:

Rate pressure increases
Negotiation power shifts away from carriers
Load selection becomes more important than volume

This is where disciplined decision-making matters most. Taking every load available may keep wheels turning, but it can quietly damage profitability.

If you want weekly context on freight trends like this — without digging through multiple reports — our This Week In Trucking newsletter breaks down market shifts by equipment type in plain language.

Why Cash Flow and Compliance Go Hand in Hand Right Now

Between tighter regulatory oversight, softening freight, and fluctuating fuel prices, the market is favoring carriers that are both compliant and financially prepared.

When cash flow is tight, carriers are more likely to:

Take underpriced loads
Rush hiring decisions
Ignore compliance details

This is why many small fleets use factoring strategically — not to grow recklessly, but to stabilize cash flow so they can choose better loads, pay fuel on time, and avoid short-term pressure decisions.

The goal isn’t more freight. It’s better freight.

Key Takeaways for Owner-Operators

Expect tighter oversight of trainers, ELDs, and medical examiners
Use falling diesel prices wisely — don’t price loads on short-term dips
Be selective in a softer spot market
Track cost per mile consistently
Protect compliance and cash flow heading into the new year

Factor Smarter, Grow Stronger

At Bobtail, we help carriers like Golden Key Express stay cash-flow positive with no hidden fees. Get same or next-day payments for the loads you deliver, and free up cash for fuel, insurance, and maintenance — the real costs of scaling a fleet.
Learn more about hassle-free factoring with Bobtail and take control of your business today. Contact us here.

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FAQs

What does “ending self-certification” mean in trucking?

It means providers like CDL schools, ELD vendors, and medical examiners may no longer be able to self-attest compliance without verification.

Is the FMCSA ending self-certification right away?

No formal rule has been finalized yet, but the agency has clearly stated this is a priority direction.

How can this affect hiring drivers?

Drivers trained by non-compliant schools could create compliance or insurance issues for carriers.

Are diesel prices expected to keep falling in the winter of 2025?

Diesel prices are down short-term but remain volatile, especially during winter months.

What does fewer spot load posts mean for rates?

Fewer loads and more trucks typically put downward pressure on spot rates.

Should owner-operators avoid the spot market right now?

Not necessarily, but selectivity matters more than volume in softer markets.

Why does FMCSA oversight matter to small fleets?

Small fleets often feel compliance pressure first because they have fewer buffers for mistakes.

Where can I get weekly updates on the best markets?

Subscribe to This Week in Trucking’s FREE newsletter for weekly insights on fuel prices, market updates, and interviews with successful carriers who share real strategies that work. Subscribe here.

How often should carriers check FMCSA-approved providers?

Anytime you hire, switch ELDs, or update medical certifications.

Can factoring help during slower freight periods?

Yes, when used to stabilize cash flow rather than chase volume. Checkout Bobtail.com

Full Transcript

Descript HRN Dec 18

Speaker: [00:00:00] From this weekend trekking, this is hot right now and I’m Amy.

Speaker: There’s some big regulatory shifts and market conditions carriers and small owner operators need to hear about this week

Speaker: From a push to tighten oversight of

Speaker: driver training, ELDs and medical examiners to diesel prices falling again

Speaker: and freight activity shifting late in the season.

Speaker: But before we get into it, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update. Your support helps us keep bringing weekly videos your way.

Speaker: So let’s start with the biggest item of the week.

Speaker: the F-M-C-S-A. Wants to end self-certification for trainers and medical examiners.

Speaker: Barrs F-M-C-S-A administrator.

Speaker: Announced plans to eliminate self-certification for key service providers in the trucking world,

Speaker: specifically CDL providers. ELD vendors and certified medical examiners

Speaker: right now, all these groups basically certify themselves

Speaker: to the F-M-C-S-A that they meet the minimum requirements

Speaker: bars. Call that too easy.

Speaker: And said that the agency [00:01:00] is moving forward with vetting the system

Speaker: to ensure that these providers actually meet the standards before they’re listed.

Speaker: Bars even highlighted that some CDL training schools.

Speaker: We’re being operated without a verified curriculum

Speaker: equipment, or even qualified instructors,

Speaker: and said that the F-M-C-S-A would work to audit and remove those that do not comply.

Speaker: Overdrive online reported

Speaker: that the agency is deploying thousands of investigators to evaluate training in person.

Speaker: and on the ELD front bars also noted problems with overseas firms producing,

Speaker: Noncompliant devices and even ELD editing issues.

Speaker: Instead the F-M-C-S-A is blocking and revoking registrations of devices to clamp down on compliance gaps.

Speaker: the goal, ensure that technology, training and medical oversight.

Speaker: That carriers rely on actually meet federal safety standards

Speaker: and not just self verified checklists.

Speaker: Here’s what this means for you.

Speaker: if you’re hiring new drivers, working [00:02:00] with a new ELD provider,

Speaker: or depend on medical examiners for clearing drug or physical exams.

Speaker: It’s more important than ever to make sure they’re legitimately vetted.

Speaker: So let me know what you’re seeing in your trucking business. Have you seen

Speaker: questionable training or ELD vendors that are not that great?

Speaker: Now to the second item, diesel prices still falling

Speaker: according to the EIA diesel fuel update the

Speaker: US Retail diesel price still continues to decline into December,

Speaker: the national average this week is at $3 and 60 cents

Speaker: as of the latest weekly data.

Speaker: That’s down more than 5 cents from last week.

Speaker: So what this means for you is that if you’re revisiting your cost per mile every week,

Speaker: your Q4 runs or winter lanes can factor in the smoother fuel trend.

Speaker: And lastly, let’s take a quick look at the spot market.

Speaker: It’s looking at the recent activity from DIT trendlines. Here’s how the spot rates have shifted.

Speaker: This is comparing December 8th to the 14th to December 1st to the seventh.

Speaker: Spot load posts are down 10.4%

Speaker: and spot [00:03:00] truck posts are up 2.8%.

Speaker: This mix means fewer posted loads and slightly higher capacity,

Speaker: a setup where truckers may face softer rates

Speaker: and a bit more competition.

Speaker: And here’s what this means for you.

Speaker: More trucks chasing fewer loads equals putting pressure on your negotiation powers.

Speaker: You might need to focus more on the profit per hour than the actual rate per mile.

Speaker: And lastly, make sure to prioritize strong lanes

Speaker: and regional pockets, which can help you protect your margins.

Speaker: Overhauls to training compliance, lower fuel costs and tightening freight activity all have real consequences for your bottom line

Speaker: when capacity creeps up and rates are softer.

Speaker: having timely insights helps you make strong decisions.

Speaker: If you want more quick updates like this, don’t forget to subscribe to this weekend Trucking’s free newsletter. We break down the best cities to pick up loads, buy equipment, typeplus we send you other carriers, real cost per mile and profits, so you can see what’s working out for others in the industry [00:04:00] right now,

Speaker: As well as broker alerts, so you know who has gotten into collections.

Speaker: remember I leave you the link to subscribe for free always in the description of our videos

Speaker: And let me know in the comments is this diesel slide helping your margins? Don’t forget to subscribe and drive safe.

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